Attari Sandwich Shop (Iranian)
1388 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Price: $$

Wurstküche (Belgian, German)
800 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Red Lion Tavern (German)
2366 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 662-5337
www.redliontavern.net

Messob (Ethiopian)
1041 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 938-8827
www.messob.com
Price: $$

Electric Karma (Indian)
8222 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 653-2121
Price: $$

Electric Lotus (Indian)
4656 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 953-0040
Price: $$

Urasawa (Japanese)
218 N Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 247-8939
Price: $$$$

Dar Maghreb (Moroccan)
7651 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 876-7651
www.darmaghrebrestaurant.com
Price: $$$$$

C&O Trattoria (Italian)
31 Washington Blvd, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
(310) 823-9491
Price: $$

The Beachcomber at Malibu Pier (excellent breakfast)
23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 456-9800
www.thebeachcombercafe.com
Price: $$$

Ruen Pair Thai Restaurant (Thai)
5257 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 466-0153
Price: $

Diddy Riese Cookies
926 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-0448
www.diddyriese.com
Price: $

India Sweets & Spices (Excellent & authentic parathas)
5992 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles
(323) 934-5193
Price: $

Fathers office (best burgers in LA + 130 varieties of beer from around the world)
3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 736-2224
Price: $$

Joshua Tree

Landscape
Two deserts, two large ecosystems whose characteristics are determined primarily by elevation, come together at Joshua Tree National Park. Below 3,000 feet, the Colorado Desert encompasses the eastern part of the park and features natural gardens of creosote bush, ocotillo, and cholla cactus. The higher, moister, and slightly cooler Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the Joshua tree. In addition to Joshua tree forests, the western part of the park also includes some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. Five fan palm oases also dot the park, indicating those few areas where water occurs naturally and wildlife abounds.

Climate
Days are typically clear with less than 25 percent humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average high/low of 85 and 50°F (29 and 10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) until the early hours of the morning.

Get there
Joshua Tree National Park lies 140 miles east of Los Angeles. It can be approached from the west via Interstate 10 and Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway). The north entrances to the park are located at Joshua Tree Village and the city of Twentynine Palms. The south entrance at Cottonwood Spring, which lies 25 miles east of Indio, can be approached from the east or west, also via Interstate 10.

Fees
Entry fee options are as follows: The Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass, $30 for 12 months; vehicle entry, $15.00 for 7 days; walk-in entry, $5.00 for 7 days. Alternatively, the new National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass can be purchased for $80 and allows free entry to all National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service sites where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged for one year.

IMPORTANT: All fees must be paid in cash. They do not accept credit/debit cards.

Every campground has a unmaned post that says “Pay fees here” where you can collect the yellow envelope, write the details on it, put money in the envelope and place it in the secured box provided. 

Hidden Valley Campground. Put money in the yellow envelope and place it in the grey secured box

Campgrounds
There are many campgrounds within the park, but they will often fill well before sunset, especially on weekends. Sadly, there are no longer any free sites, although costs are reasonable at $5 – $10 per night. All campgrounds are open year-round. Note that some sites may be reserved in advance through the National Park Service Reservation System.

Belle Campground
A primitive campground located near the North Entrance Station. 18 sites, $10 per night, no water available.

Black Rock Campground
Located in the northwest corner of the park, this campground is not accessible from the main park roads. 100 sites, $15 per night, water and flush toilets available.

Cottonwood Campground
Located next to the park’s south entrance. 62 sites, $15 per night, water and flush toilets. There are also three group sites available for $25 per night.

Hidden Valley Campground
Hidden Valley is the first campground after the West Entrance Station. 45 sites, $10 per night. There is no water available and motorhomes and vehicles longer than 25 feet are not permitted.

Indian Cove Campground
This campground is not accessible from the main park roads and may be reached only via Highway 62 and Indian Cove Road, between the North and West Entrance Stations. 101 sites, $15 per night. Water is available from the ranger station, and thirteen group sites are also available for $20/$35 per night.

Jumbo Rocks Campground
The largest campground in the park, located near the junction of the park roads in the northern part of the park. Sites are surrounded by scenic granite formations. 124 sites, $10 per night, no water available.

Ryan Campground
Easily accessible from West Entrance Station, a primitive campground with 31 sites, $10 per night, no water available.

Sheep Pass Group Campground
Groups only, located along the West Entrance Road. Six sites, $20/$35 per night, no water available.

White Tank Campground
Located along the main park road, close to the North Entrance Station. 15 sites, $10 per night. There is no water available and motorhomes and vehicles longer than 25 feet are not permitted.

Tips

 Group sites are available for reservation from the Recreations website. For group sites, a minimum of 7 persons is mandatory. Most of the other sites are first-come-first-serve basis.

There are no restaurants or stores in the park, but numerous options are available along Highway 62, north of the park, or in towns such as Twentynine Palms, located to the east and west of the park along Interstate 10.

Services within the park are limited, but food, gas, and supplies can all be purchased just outside of the park in the City of Twentynine Palms.

Park visitor centers all offer bookstores selling postcards, posters, and books of local interest.

Dangers within the park include rattlesnakes, abandoned mines, and the numerous prickly and thorny desert plants. In general, snakes can be avoided by being careful when in rocky areas. Mines can be found throughout the park, and while most have been sealed over, open mines can still be found. Do not enter mines – most of these areas are over 100 years old and are extremely dangerous.

Because of the high temperatures and lack of shade during summer months, make sure to drink lots of water.

Important things to carry

• Water, lots of it
• Insect repellants (non-electricity based)
• Wood, fuel, coal for camp fire
• Soap
• Basic first-aid kit: bandages, advil, cotton, etc.
• Sunglasses
• Sun-screen
• Cap
• Cash for fees – no credit/debit cards are accepted

Pictures

Joshua Tree National Park - Hidden Valley

Joshua Tree National Park - Hidden Valley

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park - Hidden Valley Campground

Joshua Tree National Park - Park Blvd

Pay campground fees in the yellow envelope and place it in the grey box

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Tent at Joshua Tree National Park - Hidden Valley

Joshua Tree National Park - Twilight

Click here to see photographs

About
A New Space For Music

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall, new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is designed to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world, providing both visual and aural intimacy for an unparalleled musical experience.

Through the vision and generosity of Lillian Disney, the Disney family, and many other individual and corporate donors, the city will enjoy one of the finest concert halls in the world, as well as an internationally recognized architectural landmark.

From the stainless steel curves of its striking exterior to the state-of-the-art acoustics of the hardwood-paneled main auditorium, the 3.6-acre complex embodies the unique energy and creative spirit of the city of Los Angeles and its orchestra.

The Vision

In 1987, the late Lillian Disney made an initial gift of $50 million to build a world-class performance venue as a gift to the people of Los Angeles and a tribute to Walt Disney’s devotion to the arts. Since then, other gifts and accumulated interest bring the Disney family’s total contribution to over $100 million. The County of Los Angeles agreed to provide the land and significant additional funding to finance Walt Disney Concert Hall’s six-level subterranean parking garage.

In 1988, renowned architect Frank Gehry was selected to design the complex, whose final shape he unveiled in 1991. The County initiated construction of the parking garage in 1992, completing it in 1996. Construction on the Concert Hall itself began in November 1999. Also that year, the Music Center launched a capital campaign to complete the construction funding. Many corporate, foundation, and individual partners, along with the State of California, have contributed generously to the campaign due to the remarkable leadership of Andrea L. Van de Kamp, Chairman of the Music Center, Eli Broad, Chairman of SunAmerica, Inc., and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan. The Los Angeles Philharmonic provided additional funding for the core project and full funding for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Center.

Website
Tour Information
Virtual Tour

Address
111 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Driving Directions

Santa Ana (5 North)
From the 5 North, take 101 North and exit at Grand Avenue, just before the 110 interchange. Turn right onto Grand. Turn right on Second Street and right into the parking lot. Or, from Grand, turn left on First, right on Olive, right on Kosciuszko, right on Lower Grand, left into the main parking entrance.

Golden State (5 South)
From the 5 South, take 110 South, exit on Hill Street. Continue past Temple to First Street, turn right. Left on Olive, right on Kosciuszko, right on Lower Grand, left into the lot.

Hollywood (101 North)
From 101 North, exit on Grand Avenue, just before the 110 interchange. Turn right onto Grand. Turn right on Second Street and right into the parking lot. Or, from Grand, turn left on First, right on Olive, right on Kosciuszko, right on Lower Grand, left into the main parking entrance.

Hollywood (101 South)
From 101 South, exit at Temple St., going straight across Temple St. onto Hope St. Turn left at Second Place, from the middle lane veer left onto Kosciuszko, left at lower Grand, left into the lot.

Harbor (110 North)
Exit on Fourth Street. Continue straight to lower Grand, turn left. Pass Kosciuszko, turn left into the lot.

Pasadena (110 South)
Exit on Hill Street. Continue past Temple to First Street, turn right. Left on Olive, right on Kosciuszko, right on Lower Grand, left into the lot.

Santa Monica (10 East)
From the 10 East take 110 North, exit on 4th Street. Continue straight to lower Grand, turn left. Past Kosciuszko, turn left into the lot.

San Bernardino (10 West)
From the 10 West, take 101 North and exit at Grand Avenue, just before the 110 interchange. Turn right onto Grand. Turn right on Second Street and right into the parking lot. Or, from Grand, turn left on First, right on Olive, right on Kosciuszko, right on Lower Grand, left into the main parking entrance.

Metro Rail

Don’t want to drive? Learn how to take Metro Rail to Philharmonic concerts by clicking on the TripPlanner. The site will map your route from home to the Music Center, as well as provide fare information and arrival & departure times. Walt Disney Concert Hall is located closest to the Red Line Civic Center Metro stop at 101 S. Hill St. (southwest corner of First and Hill).

The MTA provides a helpful TripPlanner for those using public transportation. The Civic Center station on the Red Line is the closest, just to the east of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Bus Service

For information on bus service to the Music Center, please contact the MTA at 1-800-COMMUTE or visit their website: www.mta.net.

Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus now offers weekend service. Click here for their website.

Holiday Late Night DASH and Red Line Service

Free Holiday Late Night DASH Service
DASH will be running evening service for free on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30pm to 3:00am from November 21 through December 27, as well as December 31. Click here for the route map.

In addition, the MTA Red Line will be running special service on Friday and Saturday evenings till 3am.

Parking

Parking is available directly beneath Walt Disney Concert Hall. Enter on Second Street or Lower Grand Avenue. Regular parking costs $8 beginning at 5:00 p.m. for evening concerts; two hours before weekday matinees; and all day on weekends. Both the Second Street and Lower Grand entrances will be open 6:00am to midnight, Monday through Friday, and 7:00am to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Valet parking is available for $20 at the Hope Street entrance, beginning at 5:00 p.m. for evening concerts; two hours before weekday matinees; and all day on weekends. The Hope Street valet and Founders parking entrance will open three hours before each concert.

Accessible parking spaces for vehicles displaying valid, state-issued disability parking placards or license plates are reserved near the elevators on each level.

For questions or problems regarding Music Center parking, please contact Five Star Parking at 213.687.4484.

24th Israel Film Festival

Feature Films:
Adam Resurrected (2008)
Bruriah (2008)
Eli & Ben (2007)
Father’s Footsteps (2007)
For My Father (2007)
It All Begins at Sea (2008)
Lost Islands (2008)
Out of the Blue (2008)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (2008)
The Seven Days (2008)
Waltz With Bashir (2008)
Zrubavel (2008)

Where:
Fine Arts Theatre, Beverly Hills
Address: 8556 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Laemmle Fallbrook 7 Theaters, West Hills
Address: 6731 Fallbrook Ave, West Hills, CA 91307

When: June 3-18, 2009

Ticket Rates:
Adult – $12
Senior/Student – $10

Official website

Map of the tour

We assume:
- that you will be driving a car and not walking
- that you have a lot of cash to spend at Rodeo Drive (optional)
- that you are a tourist

Rodeo Drive
Start at the second-most expensive street in United States after 5th Ave New York – Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills. This is where you are most-likely to spot some celebrity, and hordes of tourists. One of the most visited places in Los Angeles area, this street of 0.3 miles (0.5 km) has some of world’s best designer stores. Spend about an hour or two glaring at the beautiful people window-shopping and visit some stores for expensive purchases. Note that parking is challenging in Los Angeles, hence find your way to the parking structures on the north side of Rodeo Dr (paid parking; 25¢ for 15 minutes).

Rodeo Drive

Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
While you are at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Blvd, look south at the majestic Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel (featured in Richard Gere, Julia Roberts starrer ‘Pretty Woman’), the one with the flags flurrying at the gate.

Regent Beverly Wilshire
Address: 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90212
Tel: (310) 275-5200, Fax: (310) 274-2851

Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Beverly Hills Sign
Walking north on the Rodeo Drive, cross the Little Santa Monica Blvd up to Santa Monica Blvd brings you to the well-known 90210 zip-code called City of Beverly Hills. Walk two blocks to the right (passing Beverly Drive) and see the Beverly Hills sign on your left.

Beverly Hills Sign

La Brea Tar Pits
Start from Rodeo Drive and drive south to Wilshire Blvd. Turn left on Wilshire Blvd and drive for about 2.6 miles to reach the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and Curson Ave. On your left is La Brea Tar Pits & Hancock Park.

The La Brea Tar Pits (or Rancho La Brea Tar Pits) are a famous cluster of tar pits located in Hancock Park in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphalt or tar (which in Spanish is la brea) has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water, which attracts wildlife. Over the centuries, the bones of animals that died in the pits sank into the tar and were preserved. The George C. Page museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens from them.

La Brea Tar Pits

The George C. Page Museum, part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, is built next to the tar pits in Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard. It tells the story of the tar pits and presents specimens from them. Visitors can walk around the park and see the tar pits for free. On the grounds of the park are life-sized models of prehistoric animals in or near the tar pits. Of more than a hundred pits, only Pit 91 is still regularly worked on. The museum encloses the pit and tourists can watch as it is excavated for two months each summer. The work is done by volunteers under the watchful eyes of paleontologists.

George C. Page Museum
Hours & Admissions:
- Open 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Daily
- Admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month.
- The museum is closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Please call (323) 934-PAGE for information about special extended holiday hours or closures.

Admission Prices:
Adults: $7.00
Seniors 62 and older and Students with I.D.: $4.50
Youths 13-17 years old: $4.50
Children 5-12 years old: $2.00
Members and Children under 5: Free

Museum Parking:
$6.00 with Page Museum validation (Page Museum parking lot only)
$8.00 without Page Museum validation
Be sure to bring your parking ticket into the museum to receive your validation.

Important Note About Parking:
If you choose street parking over the museum lot, please read all parking signs carefully, as restrictions apply. Most importantly, DO NOT PARK ALONG WILSHIRE BOULEVARD between the hours of 7-9am and 4-7pm (Monday – Friday) or your car will be ticketed and towed. This applies even if you are parked at a meter.

George Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
5801 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: (323) 934-PAGE (7243)

Further directions
Start from the La Brea Tar Pits
Head south on S Curson Ave toward Wilshire Blvd    36 ft
Turn left at Wilshire Blvd 0.6 mi
Turn left at S La Brea Ave 2.0 mi
Turn right at CA-2/Santa Monica Blvd 0.3 mi
Turn left at CA-170/N Highland Ave 0.7 mi
Reach Kodak Theatre at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Kodak Theatre
Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood & Highland Center retail, dining and entertainment complex located in the heart of historic Hollywood. The 3,332 seat theatre opened in November 2001 and soon thereafter became known to more than one billion people across the globe as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.

Expect a lot of crowd at the Kodak Theatre during weekends and holidays. Tour buses drop hordes of people who hold a City Pass and get access to the guided tours faster. After the tour, if it’s still sunny outside then  make sure to walk past the main square to the back of the building where you can see the Hollywood Sign in the distance. Also see our section on how to reach the Hollywood sign from Kodak Theatre. If you take pictures with the “movie characters” in front of the theatre, make sure to tip them with at least $2.

Kodak Theatre

Guided Tours:
Guided tours of Kodak Theatre are available seven days a week from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm from June 1 to August 31, and from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm the remainder of the year. Tours depart every half hour from Level 2 entrance and last approximately 30 minutes.

Tickets:
Adults $15
Seniors (65 & over) $10
Youth (17 & under) $10
Children (under 3) Free

Kodak Theatre Coupon

Tickets may be purchased at the Kodak Theatre box office up to seven days in advance. Kodak Theatre Tours are included in the Hollywood CityPass. For more information, visit www.citypass.com Obtain a coupon for $3 off regular admission on here or at theatre website at www.kodaktheatre.com.

Guided Tour Rules:

• Tours will begin and end at the Level 2 entrance.
• Please arrive ten minutes before your scheduled tour time.
• Food, beverage, gum chewing and smoking are prohibited during the tour.
• Tour is a thirty minute walking tour that includes several flights of stairs.
• Disabled guests can be easily accommodated, but please advise the theatre at the time of ticket purchase.
• Public restrooms are not available inside the theatre. Please utilize facilities outside the theatre on Level 2.
• The use of cameras or other recording devices during the tour is strictly prohibited.
• Guests must remain with the tour group at all times.
• Stroller check is required, and available inside the theatre.
• Children under 12 are welcome to tour the building but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Kodak Theatre customer service:
Tel: (323) 308-6300
Email: info@kodaktheatre.com
Address: 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028

Right next to Kodak Theatre is…
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
It was once stated that “to visit Los Angeles and not see the Chinese is like visiting China and not seeing the Great Wall.” Grauman’s opulent, awe-inspiring presence and history has been a cornerstone of Hollywood for over 75 years.

The grand opening of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on May 18, 1927, was the most spectacular theatre opening in motion picture history. Thousands of people lined Hollywood Boulevard and a riot broke out as fans tried to catch a glimpse of the movie stars and other celebrities as they arrived for the opening. The film being premiered that night was Cecil B. DeMille’s “The King of Kings,” which was preceded by “Glories of the Scriptures,” a live prologue devised by master showman Sid Grauman. A Wurlitzer organ and 65-piece orchestra provided music for the prologue. The theatre opened to the public the following day, May 19, 1927.

Previously, Grauman built the Million Dollar Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and the lavish Egyptian Theatre a few blocks from the Chinese, but he wanted to build his dream theatre. Real estate mogul C.E. Toberman helped him secure a long-term lease on a piece of property on the boulevard and Grauman developed the plans for the theatre with architect Raymond Kennedy.

Grauman's Chinese Theater

Footprints & handprints

Handprints & Footprints at Chinese Theatre

There are nearly 200 Hollywood celebrity handprints, footprints, and autographs in the concrete of the theater’s forecourt. Variations of this honored tradition are imprints of the eye glasses of Harold Lloyd, the cigars of Groucho Marx and George Burns, the magic wands of Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the legs of Betty Grable, the fist of John Wayne, the knees of Al Jolson, the ice skating blades of Sonja Henie, and the noses of Jimmy Durante and Bob Hope. Western stars William S. Hart and Roy Rogers left imprints of their guns. The hoofprints of “Tony”, the horse of Tom Mix, “Champion”, the horse of Gene Autry, and “Trigger”, the horse of Rogers, were left in the cement beside the prints of the stars who rode them in the movies. During World War II the theater discontinued installing concrete handprints and footprints. The tradition resumed after the war in 1945 with Gene Tierney: Her star was on the rise at the time with Laura and the release of Leave Her to Heaven. The only person not associated with the movie industry to have a signature and handprint in front of the theater is Grauman’s mother.Additionally, Charles Nelson, the winner of a “Talent Quest,” had his handprints and footprints embedded in the “Forecourt of the Stars.”

Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, that serves as an entertainment hall of fame. It is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of not only human celebrities but also fictional characters honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the entertainment industry.

The Walk of Fame runs west on Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Avenue to La Brea Avenue and north to south on Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. The Walk of Fame is nearly a three-and-a-half-(3 1/2)-mile (5.6km) round-trip walk. Locations of specific stars are permanent, except when occasionally relocated for nearby construction or other reasons. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is sought after as much as Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA, and Golden Globe awards.

Each star consists of a pink terrazzo five-pointed star rimmed with bronze and inlaid into a charcoal square. Inside the pink star is the name of the honoree inlaid in bronze, below which is a round bronze emblem indicating the category for which the honoree received the star. The emblems are:
* Motion picture camera for contribution to the film industry
* Television set for contribution to the broadcast television industry
* Phonograph record for contribution to the recording industry
* Radio microphone for contribution to the broadcast radio industry
* Twin comedy/tragedy masks for contribution to live theater

Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Other attractions at Hollywood Boulevard:
- El Capitan Theatre
- Hollywood Wax Museum
- Hollywood Entertainment Museum
- Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
- Yamashiro Sky Room
- Egyptian Theatre
- Pantages Theatre

Starting from CA-170/N Highland Ave
Head north on CA-170/N Highland Ave toward N Highland Ave – go 0.7 mi
Turn left at Pat Moore Way – go 302 ft
Arriving at Pat Moore Way to the Hollywood Bowl

Hollywood Bowl
2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Tel: (323) 436-2827
www.hollywoodbowl.com

The Hollywood Bowl is a famous modern amphitheatre in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, USA, that is used primarily for music performances. It has a seating capacity of 17,376. The Hollywood Bowl is well known for its band shell, a distinctive set of concentric arches that have graced the site since 1929. The band shell is set against the backdrop of the Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood Sign to the Northeast. The “bowl” refers to the shape of the concave hillside the amphitheater is carved into. The bowl is owned by the County of Los Angeles and is the home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the host of hundreds of musical events each year.

Shuttle Buses
Hollywood Bowl runs shuttle buses to/from Universal Studios, Hollywood & Highland (Kodak Theatre) and L.A. Zoo. Click here for shuttle times and more information.

Hollywood Bowl

Start from the Hollywood Bowl and reach the…

Hollywood Sign
Click here for a post on “How to reach the Hollywood Sign“.

The Hollywood Sign is a famous landmark in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, spelling out the name of the area in 50 feet (15 m) high white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition after its initial purpose had been fulfilled. The sign was a frequent target of pranks and vandalism but has since undergone restoration, including a security system to deter vandalism. The sign is protected and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to physically maintain, repair and secure the sign, to educate the world about its historical and cultural importance, and to raise the funds necessary to accomplish these projects. From the ground, the contours of the hills give the sign its well-known “wavy” appearance. When observed at a comparable altitude, the letters appear straight-across.

Hollywood Sign

Erotica LA

Erotica LA is an annual, three-day sexuality and lifestyle exposition, the largest event of its kind. It features over 300 erotic-themed booths and attracts over 40,000 consumers. This three day sexuality and lifestyle exposition features the latest and most erotic merchandise on the market, everything from romantic products to hot DVDs. It is the largest Erotic Show in the U.S. presenting a wide variety of events geared towards women, men and couples at the 2009 convention.

When:
Friday June 12 – 4:00pm – 11:00pm
Saturday June 13 – 11:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday June 14 – 11:00am – 6:00pm

Tickets:
Three-day VIP ticket: $75
Each day ticket: $35

Click here to purchase tickets

Featured Shows:
# Sexy Girlfriend/Boyfriend Contest
# LA Direct Models Talent Search
# Infusion Burlesque Show by Devil’s Playground
# The Hollywood Men
# Naughty Couples’ Sex Game
# 2009 F.A.M.E. Awards
# Erotica Bucks
# Meet The Stars
# The Pleasure Chest Learning Center
# Live from Erotica LA Pornstartweet.com
# First Ever LIVE Auction
# Sexx University

Where:
Los Angeles Convention Center (SOUTH HALL)
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90015
Phone: (213) 741-1151
Parking: $12.00 (No In/Out)

Directions:
The Los Angeles Convention Center is conveniently located at the intersection of the Santa Monica Freeway (10) and the Harbor Freeway (110).
Click here for PDF version of the site

From the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Take the Century Boulevard exit to the Century Freeway (105) East. Take the Harbor Freeway (110) North to the Santa Monica Freeway (10) West. Exit at Pico Boulevard and proceed northward.

South Hall Parking: Turn right on Pico Boulevard, turn right on Figueroa Boulevard, turn right on Venice Boulevard, turn right on Convention Center Drive and proceed to the parking entrance.

West Hall Parking: Cross Pico Boulevard and make a right turn at the intersection of Cherry and 12th Street into the parking garage entrance.

From the Burbank Airport
Exit the airport via Empire Avenue. Turn left on Hollywood Way (note direction sign to the Golden State Freeway (5) South at Empire and Hollywood Way Intersection), take the Golden State Freeway (5) South to the Harbor Freeway (110) South. Exit at Olympic Boulevard. Turn left at the bottom of the off-ramp onto Blaine St. Turn left on 11th Street.

South Hall Parking: Turn right on Figueroa. Turn right on Venice. Turn right on Convention Center Drive and proceed to the parking garage entrance.

West Hall Parking: Turn right at Cherry Street. Turn left at the intersection of Cherry St. and 12th Street and into the parking garage entrance.

From the Long Beach Airport
Exit the airport via E. Donald Douglas Drive. Turn right on N. Lakewood Blvd. Take ramp onto (405) Freeway North toward Santa Monica. Take the Harbor Freeway exit onto (110) Freeway going north toward Los Angeles. Take the Santa Monica(10) Freeway and exit toward Pico Blvd. Continue on Cherry Street. Turn right on West Pico Blvd. Turn left on South Figueroa Street. Arrive at 1201 South Figueroa Street on the left.

From Santa Monica/Brentwood, CA Area
Take 10 East towards LA, merge onto 110 South towards San Pedro, exit 9th Street, toward Downtown, stay STRAIGHT to go on James M. Wood Blvd., turn right onto Cottage, turn left onto W Olympic, turn right onto S Figueroa St., turn right on Venice Blvd., turn right on Convention Center Blvd., enter parking structure.

Metrorail Service
Metro Rail Blue Line: The Metro Rail Blue Line connects with all Metro Rail and Metro Link lines at Union Station and stops on Flower at Pico (PICO STATION), directly across from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Metro Rail fares average $1.70 each way. To plan your trip, call 1-800-COMMUTE or visit www.MTA.net/riding_metro/

From Union Station
By Metrolink Rail: Take the Metro Red Line. Exit at 7th Street then transfer to the Metro Blue Line (Long Beach). Exit at Pico Boulevard Station. Then walk one block west to Figueroa Street.

Commuter Express from Downtown Los Angeles
Take route 413 – From Temple/Hill (Civic Center) to 11th /Figueroa Street (LACC).

Parking
Los Angeles Convention Center Parking Garage
Phone: 213-741-1151
Daily Rate: $12.00
Park in the South Hall Parking Lot

Four Three Three Spring Garage
433 S. Spring St.
Miles From LACC: 1.50 Miles

Schedule:

Hours: It’s always there but not lighted at night
Location: Mount Lee, Griffith Park
Best Time to See It: The Hollywood Sign faces south and is visible all day long

So if you are at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave – called the Times Square of Los Angeles – it takes about 15 minutes to reach the Hollywood Sign (maybe 30 during weekend peak hours). Here’s how you reach there:
Total driving distance: 3.3 miles

Hollywood Blvd & Highland Ave

From Hollywood Blvd, head North on Highland Ave (also called as CA-170/N) – if you are driving from, say, LAX airport, you will be driving on Highland Ave; so continue driving North. You will pass the Renaissance Hotel (on your left), and make a slight right turn, where you arrive at Franklin Ave. Turn right on Franklin Ave.
Distance: 0.3 miles
Recommendation: Whether you are driving on Highland Ave or coming from Hollywood Blvd driving West, always keep on the right side. There’s a whole lot of traffic there, it being a tourist destination.

Turn right on Franklin Ave

Keep driving on Franklin Ave for 0.9 miles and keep driving on the left-most lane. In case you if are looking for US-101 Hollywood Freeway, this is the road you may wanna take. After the US-101 “bridge”, the road narrows and after 2 lights you will see Beachwood Drive on your left. Turn left at (North) Beachwood Dr.
Distance: 0.9 miles
Recommendation: There’s a gas station at the intersection of Beachwood and Franklin. Avoid filling gas (Petrol) there – it’s generally expensive!

Turn left on Beachwood Dr

Driving on Beachwood Dr is a pleasant experience. Palm trees line up on both sides of the road and within seconds of turning on the road, you can see the Hollywood sign up ahead. This is the Beachwood Canyon community. Horseback riding is a popular activity in the Beachwood Canyon community. The Sunset Ranch is available for horse boarding purposes. On Friday nights they offer a four hour tour through Griffith Park to the Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant for margaritas and an inexpensive meal and then back to the stables. The Sunset Ranch calls this a sunset dinner ride. The way back to the stables is well lit by the moon and stars. Keep driving for about 1.3 miles and you will make a left turn at Ledgewood Dr. This is a always-miss! The street sign is small, so make sure you keep an eye for the drive.
Distance: 1.3 miles
Recommendation: You will see many spots from where you can take amazing shots of the Hollywood sign as a backdrop. Pull over anytime and get some quick pictures.

Turn left on Ledgewood Dr

Turning left on Ledgewood Dr starts a twist-and-winding road up the hills. Within a few yards you will arrive at a junction where there are 3 ways to go – 1. left – continue on Ledgewood, 2. right – go on Deronda Dr and 3. extreme right – go to Rodgerton dr. Take #2 – Deronda Dr.
Distance: 0.2 miles
Recommedation: Watch out for oncoming traffic. This is a two-lane road and very narrow. Look out for some amazing houses on both sides of the road. 

Turn right on Deronda Dr

The road keeps winding up to the Hollywood sign. Keep driving on Deronda Dr for about 0.5 miles and you should be able to see the Hollywood Sign straight up. If you keep going on Deronda Dr, you will reach a gate on your right where there’s no going further – with signs put up saying no access to public. This is all you can go up to.�
Distance: 0.8 miles
Recommendation: After about 0.3 miles from the moment you start on Deronda Dr, you may wanna slow down for a spectacular view of Los Angeles Downtown on your right, on a clear, sunny day. Note that you are not allowed to stop here, but a quick stopover for pictures is no harm. Make sure you are not blocking the traffic! You can take a U-turn from the gate, park on the cliff-side curb and take pictures of the sign, up close behind you.

Hollywood Sign at the back

Tourist at the Hollywood Sign

Drive down the same route back.

Send your comments / pictures!

Difficulty level: Easy

Trail distance: 2.5 miles

Vereda De La Montura

Driving Directions: The interstate 10-West merges in the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH, US-1) at Santa Monica. Keep driving on PCH-1 and take a right on Sunset Blvd. Drive east 0.5 miles and take a left turn at Palisades Drive. In about 2.4 miles take a left turn at Vereda De La Montura and in a few yards you will see the gated entry of Topanga State Park. Once you are on Palisades Drive, lookout for the Santa Ynez Trail sign pointing to the left on Vereda De La Montura.

Topanga State Park entry

Start from the gated entrance off Vereda De La Montura and proceed down the concrete path to the controlled flood channel. In a few yards you’ll pass over a concrete wash laden with concrete stepping stones. Make sure to take that as the floor can be slippery with algae growing in the water.

Continue on the easy trail path upstream as the stream disappears and re-appears along the canyon floor.

Stepping Stones

After about 0.5 miles you will reach a junction where the left path will take you to the Topanga Trail path out of the canyon and ascend to the Trippet Ranch and evetually to Eagle Rock (about 3.5 miles), and the right path will lead to the waterfall, one mile further.

A few yards after the “right turn”, you will come across an intersection – one which goes straight and other which take you up the mountains (on the left). Take the path going up the mountain to reach the waterfall. If you take the straight road from the intersection, you will be heading back to the starting point.

As you near your destination, you will come across a large, 12-foot boulder blocking the canyon. Climb the first rope attached to the tree, up the boulder. After descending the boulder and a few boulder-hopping brings you to the 18-foot waterfall where your trail ends.

Notes:
1. Take lots of water. It’s good to take some sandwiches to eat at your destination.

2. You will see a lot of people on the trail and almost everyone was clueless about the waterfall, so if you’re not sure about your path, keep asking and someone might be willing to show you the way.

3. The water in the stream is cold – maybe freezing in winter & spring. Watch out for water-insects if you see yourself taking a leg-dip in the water (see picture below).

4. It’s free!

Water Insect

Stream along Santa Ynez Trail

Pictures:

Santa Ynez 1

Santa Ynez 2

Santa Ynez 3

Santa Ynez 5

Santa Ynez 6

Santa Ynez 7

Santa Ynez 8